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Hotel rates rise in two thirds of destinations

The average price paid by British travellers for a double room increased most sharply in Rio de Janeiro, Las Vegas, Perth, Dubai, Osaka and Key West, according to the a study by the website Hotels.com.

In Rio, prices soared by 31 per cent compared with 2011, to £182. Further increases are likely in the coming years, with Brazil due to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the city hosting the 2016 Olympic Games. In Las Vegas, where Prince Harry was photographed naked last month, average hotel rates rose by 15 per cent, from £73 to £84.

Prices rose by 34 per cent in Perth, to £148, thanks to a recent resources boom in Western Australia, by 21 per cent in Key West, to £159, by 21 per cent in Dubai, to £134, and by 35 per cent in Osaka, to £72.

The most expensive destination to feature in the study was Monte Carlo, where a double room will typically costs British travellers £197 – 19 per cent more than last year.

Rio de Janeiro was the second costliest, followed by Muscat (£179), New York (£171), Moscow (£161) and Geneva (£161).

Average rates did fall in a number of destinations, including Goa, where they dropped from £64 to £55, Rome (£120 to £106), Athens (£80 to £72), and Amsterdam (£117 to £113).

The cheapest places to stay were the popular backpacker haunts of Phnom Penh (£35), Pattaya (£47), Hanoi (£48) and Chiang Mai (£51).